Sun Tour 2008

Photos and Story by Graham Ward

The Sun Tour is an eight-day camping tour open to motorcycles manufactured prior to December 31,
1980.

This annual event is organised by the Sunshine Coast area of the Historical Motor Cycle Club.
The tour this year started from the Maleny Showground on Saturday August 16, with twelve bikes and
a Nissan utility towing the chuck wagon trailer. The Nissan carried the riders camping gear etc,
with the trailer carrying the cooking gear and supplies. The bike line up consisted of five Moto
Guzzi, four BMW, one Triumph, one BSA and one Norton. Three BSMCC members were in the tour group,
all Guzzi mounted.

The first days ride, 359 Klm, took us through Kenilworth, Gympie, Widgee and Wooluga, to our destination
for two nights at Biggenden, where we camped at the showground. This site is opposite the well-known
Douglas collector, Alan Cunningham. Alan was very obliging and allowed us a tour of his collection
the following day. The first day’s ride was not without drama, as one Triumph lost spark on
one cylinder and was replaced with the BSA. The remaining Triumph broke the coil bracket but was
repaired with cable ties and one Guzzi was halted with a roofing screw in the rear tyre. This machine
was loaded on to the trailer to receive a new tyre when we passed through Kingaroy.

Day two was a more leisurely outing of 293Klm, which took in the local scene, visiting the Paradise
Dam and on through Cordalba to Woodgate, for lunch by the sea. The road to the dam would have to be
the best piece of motorcycle bitumen that we covered in the whole of the eight days, with its constant
radius corners through hills and gullies. More drama on this run! With the Triumph breaking one of
its two throttle cables. With the cable replaced we took in the highlights of Childers on our return
to Biggenden, for another night by the campfire.

5 Guzzis & back up with trailer at Somerset Dam.
From left Graham Ward - John Wilkins –
Adrian Kerwin - Rob Mutimer - Ron Briais.
3 BSMCC members in this group.

From Biggenden we headed west through Ban Ban Springs, Murgon and Kingaroy, to our next night’s
destination at Somerset Dam, a distance of 323 Klm. With the temperature on the low side and southwesterly
winds blowing, the pie shop in Kingaroy seemed a great place to await the fitting of a new tyre on
the Guzzi.

Our next three nights were to be at the Murwillumbah Showgrounds, with the route taking the group
through Rosewood, Harrisville, Beaudesert, Canungra over Beachmont to the Numinbah Valley and on
to Murwillumbah. This day’s riding being a distance of 317Klm. This of course included the
mandatory stop at Chillingham, for a chocolate-coated banana. More drama in the mechanical department
on this leg! On arriving at Beaudesert one of the BMW riders was complaining that there was a huge
reduction in power. The power loss was found to be a front brake calliper locked on to the disc.
This problem was remedied by removing the calliper, placing a six-inch shifter between the pads.
The calliper, with shifter attached, was then taped to the crash bar.

Wednesday was to be a lay day, with the option of a short run to Tyalgum for morning tea and then
on to Clarrie Hall Dam at Uki, with lunch at the Uki Hotel. The latter being my choice and covered
a distance of 131Klm. Wednesday night three visitors from the Gold Coast, Steve Wall and his two
sons, Karl and Brett, joined us for the night. This was a pleasant surprise as Karl was riding the
Harley Davidson (John Deere) previously owned by our late member John (Bucko) Buckley. Karl’s
wife is Bucko’s niece and the HD has been repaired to its former glory following the accident
that took our old mate.

Thursday was a tour of the local areas taking in the high country from Mullumbimby through Federal,
then across to Bexhill and up to Alstonville and Bangalow before returning to our base at Murwillumbah.
This area has some great scenery as you pass through the rain forest over looking the valleys, although
the road surface leaves a lot to be desired, requiring good concentration to avoid the many potholes.